WCPFC slammed for excluding NGO observers from meetings

Following the exclusion of observers at part of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission’s (WCPFC) Technical and Compliance Committee (TCC) meeting (23 September to 1 October 2024), Accountability.Fish Communication Fellow Louise Oualid addressed the committee, urging the WCPFC to allow greater civil society participation, specifically by permitting observers from NGOs, media, and citizens from member nations to attend and engage in these critical discussions.

WCPFC remains the only tuna RFMO that continues to exclude observers from important sections of key meetings.

“We are deeply concerned by WCPFC’s continued resistance to transparency,” Oualid said. “Despite the commission’s public claims, its refusal to open these sessions undermines both its credibility and its commitment to sustainable ocean governance.”

Accountability.Fish said the lack of transparency stands in direct violation of several international agreements, including the United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement, of which all but three WCPFC members are signatories. It noted that Article 12 of the agreement stipulates that: “States shall provide for transparency in the decision-making process and other activities of subregional and regional fisheries management organisations.”

The organisation further insisted that WCPFC’s actions are inconsistent with key international frameworks, including the Rio Declaration, the Aarhus Convention, the Almaty Guidelines, and the Escazú Convention, all of which call for the involvement of civil society in environmental decision-making processes.

Oualid added: “As a civil society non-governmental organisation that is committed to openness across the world’s marine governance regimes, we cannot sit still while you claim an exception for yourselves, while claiming that your intentions are good and that ours are somehow nefarious.”

Accountability.Fish is a global initiative committed to increasing openness and accountability in international fisheries decision making. It is funded by the Oceans Five Foundation.